Post-Mesoproterozoic mineralisation in Queensland occurs within discrete time slices which are related to major tectono-stratigraphic events. Although these events have been studied in sufficient depth to develop an overall geological framework for Queensland, considerable controversy and debate continue over their tectonic settings. The Neoproterozoic to Cambrian metamorphic rocks contain only minor mineralisation, in the form of banded iron formation, Besshi-type copper and minor quartz-vein gold, Cambrian to Ordovician mineralisation is dominated by Kuroko-style volcanic-hosted massive sulphides in back-arc basins in North Queensland and phosphorites in the Georgina Basin. The Silurian to Middle Devonian is marked by granite intrusion in North Queensland, in the Anakie Province and at Mount Morgan. Depositions of sedimentary and volcanic rocks occur for the first time in the New England Fold Belt. Mineralisation is dominated by granite associated gold, and the volcanic-hosted Mount Morgan copper- gold deposit. There are also Besshi-type copper deposits in the Hodgkinson Province. In the Late Devonian to Carboniferous, intracratonic basins formed on the stable craton in north Queensland and a major volcanic arc formed in the New England Fold Belt with minor associated mineralisation. The Carboniferous to Early Permian is a major mineralising epoch in North Queensland associated with extensive felsic volcanism and intrusion. Porphyry-related gold (including Kidston, Mount Leyshon and Red Dome), tin, tungsten-molybdenum-bismuth, and uranium deposits are all present. Epithermal gold mineralisation is common in the northern Drummond Basin, as is slate-belt gold in the Hodgkinson and Broken River Provinces. Gold occurs in basal Permian conglomerates near Clermont. In the New England Fold Belt, Kuroko-style volcanic-hosted massive sulphides occur at Mount Chalmers and sediment-hosted sulphides at Silver Spur. The Late Permian to Triassic represents a period of significant mineralisation in the New England Fold Belt. Volcanic and granite-associated gold mineralisation is widespread. Gold deposits at Gympie, which are hosted in Early Permian rocks, owe their mineralisation to this younger event. Porphyry coppers and skarns are present and a variety of other minerals (magnetite, zinc, mercury, silver, chromite, tin and arsenic) are known. Mineralisation in the Cretaceous comprises gold and copper associated with granite emplacement in the northernmost New England Fold Belt. Numerous placer deposits formed in the Cainozoic, as did weathering-related deposits such as bauxite at Weipa and lateritic nickel-cobalt at Greenvale and in central Queensland. The Kunwarara magnesite also formed at this time.
